Crest Turns To Bygone Era Of 50s Flicks

Richard Silanskas wants moviegoers to take a trip back in time before ratings were needed to declare a film fit for family consumption.

Starting May 31, the time machine starts operating in Fruitland Park. And you never have to leave the car.

For years, drive-in theaters have been fading from America's landscape. But Silanskas and his family are banking on a hunch that folks will flock to the Crest Drive-In Theatre to see cinema that played drive-ins during their heyday 30 years ago.

Silanskas believes a drive-in audience exists for Mickey Rooney, Elizabeth Taylor, Flying Disc Men From Mars, cherry soda and other nostalgic drive-in features. Like speakers that work. But he does not know for sure; there's nothing he can find to compare it to.

The family is almost finished renovating the theater in time for a grand reopening next week. To get the venture rolling, family members incorporated and started fixing up the theater.

Silanskas handles film bookings, promotions and serves as president of Sonshine Theatres Inc. Carmelita, his mother, will handle the concession stand along with her daughter, Dianne. Silanskas' father, Richard Sr., is general manager, assistant treasurer and handles the bookkeeping. Brother Vince serves as secretary-treasurer and helps with the renovations. Silanskas' wife helps with the bookings and promotions.

The old Crest closed down earlier this year. Silanskas signed a lease for up to two years for the drive-in with owner Bill Cumbaa, who also owns the Tropic Twin Theatre in downtown Leesburg. The family has spent about $5,800 getting things ready for opening night.

Much of that investment has gone into turning the concession stand into a minimuseum of drive-in memorabilia. A 1950s juke box will sit on one side and photos of classic movie stars wil adorn the walls. Carmelita and Dianne will serve cherry sodas, snow cones, chili dogs and licorice. To those who prefer 1980s cinema cuisine, nachos are available.

Minor repairs have been made throughout the grounds, including a refurbished audio system for car speakers.

Silanskas, program director at WIYE-Channel 55 in Leesburg, has hooked up with a former business associate and friend who owns several theaters in Delaware. Barry Solan will provide the bulk of the old movies scheduled for the drive-in from a company that distributes classic films.

Solan said he has never heard of anyone using film classics to lure people back to the drive-in. ''To my knowledge, it's the only one,'' he said. ''It's unusual.''

Most drive-ins have been sold for handsome profits because of the land value, while others contain flea markets, said Irv Sliskin, a writer in Philadelphia preparing to publish a book on the drive-ins' demise.

In the 1950s, drive-ins competed head on with the infant television industry. Today, video-cassette recorders, cable television and other forms of entertainment have squeezed drive-ins out of the market, he said.

Drive-ins may be associated with forays between the opposite sex who are too busy steaming up car windows to worry about what's on the screen. Youths are inportant customers to theaters but Silanskas said he aims to bring back films geared for the entire family.

Films like National Velvet and The Day The Earth Stood Still will be complemented by cartoons and a weekly serial, all circa 1950. During the summer, plans include screening more contemporary family films.

So far, response has been phenomenal from people of all ages, he said. ''Everywhere I go, people are asking me about it.''

Silanskas said this indicates the drive-in's 1950s theme could fill a void for drive-in fans who are tired of the contemporary fare served up by local movie houses and television.

After all, when was the last time anyone saw Flying Disc Men From Mars?